This was an encore trip to NOTL. Last year I went to Niagra Falls (YUCKY) on a 5 day vacation. After being breathtakingly impressed with the falls but VERY underwhelmed with the town, Bobby and I decided to get out of Dodge ( s0 to speak) and tour the surrounding countryside. And what a great idea! We just happened upon some of the most beautiful vineyards I have ever seen. We also found the most charming, flower-filled, friendly, sophicated, darling town: Niagra-On-The-Lake. We only spent 1 day there and I knew I would have to go back. Sooooo … 1 year later I went back with my Sister, Lisa for a long weekend to celebrate her birthday. It was even better than I remembered.

This is a GREAT vacation place. I plan on doing 3 different pictorial blogs about it. Today I will introduce you to the town and shopping area. In the next blog, I will give you a tour of the beautiful wine country and some vineyards, and the last will be a foodie’s fantasy… an 8 course meal and paired wine at the Chef’s table at Peller winery with executive chef and celebrity, Jason Parsons.

Our hotel, Queen’s Landing, was spectacular! I can see how this haven of delights got its name. When I landed there I was treated like a queen!!!

Notice the rose on my pillow. Every day a new and different colored rose.

The town was filled with scrumptous places to eat as well as many opportunities for retail therapy.

An evening stroll to a friendly pub, The Angel Inn. Great fish and chips and music.

The flowers were the real show-offs in town. I can’t imagine how they kept them so stunningly beautiful.

The historic and over-the-top Prince of Whales hotel.

Having high tea there was so posh & elegant.

We also saw “Born Yesterday”, a knee-slapping comedy at the Shaw Theater. (Judy Holiday received the Academy award for her portrial of "Billie" in the movie- a must see) George Bernard Shaw is also associated with this precious town.

Being out and about in this town and seeing the beautiful flowers, home and people was such a treat!

I am planning my trip for next September… and I am staying at Two Bees, a WONDERFUL B&B owned by Lori and Alan Bisback.

Oh, Canada!

6 comments:

I loved this post. This looks like my kind of town. I was surprised that the flowers were still looking so wonderful...I thought it would be too cold there. The high tea looks like a dream, I love nice hotels...yes, this is my kind of trip. Thank you for taking me along. I look forward the rest of the posts.

I also love Niagara on the Lake! Reminds me a bit of a small New England town. Just the other day I was talking about it and tried to remember the woman artist who has a shop there...she prints her paintings onto post cards, and then adheres them to pieces of pottery - - any chance you went to her small gallery and can recall her name - - I would love to see if she has a website?

I am surprised that you characterize Niagara Falls as 'yucky'!!!! Millions of international visitors come see the Falls every year and find it to be a beautiful clean city. Queen Victoria park and Falls area are very beautiful. There are the Niagara Parks Commission greenhouses and formal gardens in the park as well as attractions like the Maid of the Mist(best way to see the Falls). For family fun, there is Marineland, and a whole slew of museums and restaurants on Clifton hill. There are water parks and miniature golf courses and a casino. This is all in Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canadian side). Niagara Fall, US has much less to offer tourists and seems to be a more depressed area.

The drive from Niagara Falls to NOTL along the Niagara Parkway(Canadian side) is gorgeous. You are following the Niagara River with great views of the Niagara Gorge. On the west side of the road, you pass the School of Horticulture gardens and butterfly museum, Floral Clock and Sir Adam Beck Generating station. A bicycle path runs parallel to the road. I couldn't imagine a more pleasant riding trail.

NOTL is a gem. The gardens are amazing and there are many interesting shops. The Shaw festival offers wonderful theatre. I remember celebrating my first anniversary at the Oban Inn in NOTL. Did you know the Angel Inn is said to be haunted? My mother's favourite shop was the Angel Shop adjacent to the Inn. My favourite shops are the Christmas Shop and the Irish shop. If I could afford the property taxes, I would love to retire there.

Trisha Romance lives in NOTL and has a gallery there. Many of her paintings feature landmarks from the town.Patti, I think I recall the artist you are referring to. She does watercolours of gardens (mostly). I don't recall her name.

I live about an hour from NOTL and I must agree that it is a glorious town. We used to launch our boat in Lewiston,NY, just on the other side of the river. We would cross over, dock at the yacht club at the foot of NOTL and walk up for ice cream. We have not done that since 9/11. I'm sure it is more complicated now. With the town's close proximity to Lake Ontario, the flowers will bloom for a very long time in the fall as the warm water moderates the climate.

Thank you so much for this beautiful photo gallery. I look forward to seeing more.